Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-22
A RUSHING BUSINESS.
Wonderful Increase in the Southern Pa
cific Conpany's Traffic.


cific Conpany's Traffic.
The bustling activity that prevails at
present in the long, low sheds of the freight
department of the Southern Pacific at
Fourth and Townsend streets, tells as well
as any fact can of the rapidly increasing
development Of California. 1t is worth a
visit to see the vast amount of freight,
especially local freight, or that to and from
points within the States borders, that is
daily handled there The several sheds
cover acres Of ground, yet more are needed
and will soon be built There are scarcely
cars enough to accommodate the freight
shipment, and more engines are needed
also. In the block bounded by Fourth,
Sixth, King and Townsend streets are a
dozen or more parallel tracks, and these
for nearly a half mile are crowded all the
time with cars being loaded or unloaded.
In one section by the main sheds over two
hundred cars were counted.
The scene about the sheds is one of
hurry and hustle, of life and vigorous ac-
tlvlty. The freight, in boxes, or bales,
cans and crates, bags and bundles, is
brought up by heavy trucks on one side, and
after weighing is rolled through to the OPP
poslte sides into the open doors of the cars,
IN waiting like so many voracious animals
| for their allowance of bulky food Hun
| dreds of men and hundreds of hand-trucks
are kept busy in this process, moving to
| and fro from car to shed, and shed to car.
The payroll of Freight Agent Anthony
| showed to-day that the largest force of
men ever employed at any one time was at
work. numbering in all over three hun
dred. OF these, 232 were engaged in the
handling of the freight, and the rest in
the clerical work necessary. The general
character of the goods that are piled up
IN sheds and cars in the course of transfer |
from one point of the State to another is |
interesting to notice. Agricultural nipple |
ments are here in great number, reapers |
tield-crushers, harrows and farm-wagons |
are seen. There are also wine-presses,
pumps, artesian well-piping, coils of barbed |
wire, doors and blinds and other |
articles significant of the development
OF material resources occurring at their |
several destinations. Fittings for a |
Hour mill addressed to Round Valley,
Mendocino county, fill one section of the |
storage shed, and piles of sewer-piping
take up much room. In one corner are
several hundred sacks of dried fruit, and |
near are boxes of the same product Wine
casks and fruit boxes are numerous
The cars are filled rapidly and systematic
ally. Several rows of cars, side by side,
are filled in order by system of bridging
planks between the trains. Over each
gang of freight hands is foreman, and
there is no time for idling. "Lively times
here you bet" assented one of the toilers
in response to the remark of spectator.
"Our business is all we can handle, and
the increase is nearly all local" said Traf-
fc Manager Stubs. "We want at least
fifty more freight engines, and we must
have more shed room. The plans are all
ready for new shed similar to the others.
and it will probably be built as soon as
Senator Stanford returns from the north"
Freight Agent Anthony expressed sim
liar views. ave have all the men we can
worl-the largest number ever employed. |
The business is nearly all local, and for
over a year it has been growing on us
steadily"-S +. Bulletin.